BATON ROUGE, La.--The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development would like to congratulate two employees who recently received the highest honor classified state employees can obtain for their service to Louisiana.

Lesha Woods and Allen Taylor received the 58th annual Charles E. Dunbar, Jr., Career Service Award, presented by the Louisiana Civil Service League. The award, named for the founder of the League and co-author of the original Civil Service Law in Louisiana, is presented to employees in a classified merit system who have distinguished themselves by service over and above the call of duty.

Woods serves as DOTD’s Financial Services Administrator, where she manages the fiscal operations of the Department and directs activities such as general accounting and reporting and the disbursement of Capital Outlay funds and monitors departmental compliance with federal laws and regulations. She has worked for the state for 29 years, of which nearly eight years have been with DOTD.

She said that this honor was humbling and surprising. “I’ve put my heart and soul into my work over the years, and to know that I was chosen from among so many worthy candidates means the world to me,” Woods added.

Taylor serves DOTD as an Airway Systems Manager, where he helps manage the state’s airport runway lighting, electrical and/or NAVAID infrastructure, provides telephone technical support and authorizes inspections. He has worked for DOTD for 23 years and says that every day is an adventure.

“I have received awards from DOTD and the 2012 IES/ALC Award of Excellence for the LED solar test program at the False River Regional Airport. However, the Dunbar Award is the highlight of my career,” Taylor said.

Employees Richard Harbor III and Damon Cooley received Honorable Mention. Harbor works as an Accounts Payable Manager and has served the Department for 18 years. Cooley, who has 27 years of service with DOTD, works as a Maintenance Specialist.

Secretary Shawn Wilson, Ph.D., said, “I appreciate the service and dedication of all our employees, but it’s a great feeling when exceptional employees are recognized by their peers for outstanding service among statewide employees. DOTD and the State of Louisiana wholeheartedly commend them on the attainment of such a prestigious honor.”

To learn more about the Dunbar Award and other recipients, visit the Civil Service website.